Rāhui placed on Rotorua lake where four-year-old girl drowned

Tuesday, 5 January 2021

A rāhui has been placed on a Rotorua lake where a four-year-old girl drowned on Monday.

The rahui was put in place at Lake Rotokawau on Tuesday by Ngati Rangiteaorere Koromatua Council co-chair Dr Ken Kennedy, who along with Lake Rotokawau trustees also performed karakia at the site.

Kennedy said the rāhui would be “on the lake until further notice”.

Police were alerted to the incident at around 4:35pm on Monday, a police spokeswoman said.

A St John spokesperson told Stuff they responded just after 5pm with one ambulance and a rescue helicopter.

The manager of the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter told Stuff they did respond “but sadly we weren’t required”.